Self-adjusting and locking wrench



.W. F. SLAYTON ADJUSTING AND LOCKING WRENCH Nov. 28, 1967 SELF 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1966 ATTORNEYS NOV. 28, 1967 w, SLAYTON3,354,758

SELF-ADJUSTING AND LOCKING WRENCH Filed July 7, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BYm ,QQQMV ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1967 w, F s Y o 3,354,758

SELF-ADJUSTING AND LOCKING WRENCH Filed July 7, 1966 4 SheetsSheet 5 fM/MlImnn/mmmm m r twwwwwwwwwwvl W IVENTOK W /MZJ/dy/M ATTORNEYS Nov. 28,1967 W. F. SLAYTON SELF-ADJUSTING AND LOCKING WRENCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed July '7, 1966 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,354,758Patented Nov. 28, 197

3,354,758 SELF-ADJUSTING LOCKING WRENCH Wayland F. Slayton, RD. 1, Box164,

Glen Mills, Pa. 19342 Filed July 7, 1966, Ser. No. 563,448 7 Claims.(Cl. 81126) ABSTRACT F TI-IE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates toa self-adjusting wrench which has a jaw pivotally mounted on a handleand a coacting jaw slidably mounted on the pivotal jaw and having awedge surface inclined in the direction of travel. A locking cam whichis rotatably mounted on the pivotal jaw locks the jaw and aninterconnection between the handle and the cam adjusts the cam intolocking position against the wedge surface in response to movement ofthe wrench. The cam has a spiral surface and the interconnection rotatesthe cam toward decreasing radii as the handle adjusts the sliding jawaway from the pivotal jaw and toward increasing radii and lockingposition as the handle moves in the direction of application of torque.The interconnection may comprise a link between the handle and the camwhich may be either rigid or flexible.

Description of invention This invention relates to a self-adjustingwrench and more particularly to a self-adjusting wrench with a handleactuated cam locking mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide a wrench that can be readilyadjusted and locked in place by the simple application of torque to thehandle of the wrench.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable slidingjaw type of wrench having an improved locking means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sliding jaw wrenchthat is instantly adjustable by manipulation of the handle in adirection opposite to that by which torque is applied to the wrench.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inclined surface onthe sliding jaw of the wrench that is engaged by a locking cam actuatedby manipulation of the handle in the direction of application of torqueto the handle of the wrench.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locking cam thatincreases its locking action as the torque applied to the wrenchincreases.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfadjusting wrenchwherein the locking action applied to the sliding jaw of the wrench issufficient over the entire range of size of the wrench.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spiral locking camwrench adjustable by movement of the handle infinitely over the range ofthe wrench as opposed to incremental.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfadjusting camlocking wrench that permits ratching and eliminates the problem of thejaws coming out of adjustment after repeated applications of torque byreadjusting itself with respect to the nut every time torque is releasedand reapplied to the wrench.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfadjusting slidingjaw type of wrench wherein the need for machining guides or ways for thesliding jaw has been eliminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfadjusting wrenchthat is capable of being locked in place, about any size nut within itsrange, that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, that islightweight, durable and has a one-handed ease of operation.

Further objects and advantages will become readily apparent from thefoilowing description of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment or" theself-adjusting wrench of this invention utilizing a flexible linkconnection between the handle and the locking cam.

FIGURE 2 is a top end view of the wrench of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines33 of FIGURE 2 showing the operating mechanism of the wrnech.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 3 showing thewrench in an open position.

FIGURE 5 is a bottom end view of the wrench of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an alternative form of this invention similar to the wrenchof FIGURES 1 to 5, utilizing a gear connection between the locking camand the handle.

FIGURE 7 is a top end view of the wrench of FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the wrench in an openposition.

FIGURE 9 is a further alternate form of this invention showing a wrenchsimilar to wrench of the foregoing figures wherein a rigid linkconnection is employed between the handle and the locking cam.

FIGURE 10 is a top view of the wrench of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 showing the wrench in an openposition.

FIGURE 12 is a jump sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of FIGURE9.

Describing by way of illustration only and not in limitation, and withreference to the drawings wherein like numbers represent like parts andin particular with reference to FIGURES 1-4, there is shown a wrenchhaving a handle 15 partly broken away. The handle is attached by rod 16between depending flanges 17 and 18 to pivotal jaw member 20 having ajaw face 21.

Mounted on this jaw member is a coacting sliding jaw member 24 having ajaw face 25 and a bearing surface 26 engaged in a channel 27 betweendepending flanges 17 and 18 of the jaw member 20, the sliding jaw beingmounted for sliding movement only with respect to pivotal jaw member 20.A spring or similar bias element 28 interconnects the two jaw memberstending to urge their jaw faces toward a closed position.

The sliding jaw member 24 has a wedge surface 29 inclined in thedirection of travel of the sliding jaw member and is adapted to beengaged by a locking cam 30 pivotally mounted between flanges 17 and 18-of the jaw member 26 on shaft 31. An interconnecting flexible link 32 isconnected to the cam at 33 and at 34 to the handle of the wrenchwrapping itself about contoured surfaces 35 and 36 on the handle and thecam respectively as the wrench moves between open and closed positionsas shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The flexible link is rigid, meaningrelatively inelastic under tension, when force is applied to it byapplying torque to the handle of the wrench thereby rotating itclockwise which tends to rotate the cam counterclockwise towardincreasing radii 3 against the inclined surface 29 of the sliding jawmember 24.

In this embodiment, the flexible link may be constructed of anyresilient material and preferably is a plurality of individual strips ofstainless steel and so constructed that it tends to wrap itself aroundthe contoured surface 36 on the cam applying torque to the cam causingit to rotate toward decreasing radii when the handle of the wrenchismoved in a counterclockwise or adjustment direction as described belowwith respect to the operation of the wrench.

In this specification and in the appended claims, movement of the handleof the wrench in adjustment direction is opposite to that by whichtorque is applied and is intended to define movement of the jaws of thewrench away from one another in response to movement of the handle so asto adjust the distance between them sufficient to pass the wrench over anut or the head of a bolt.

In operation, the pivotal jaw member 20 is held against a nut or head ofa bolt 37 to be tightened and the handle is pivoted counterclockwise.The engagement between the end 38 of the handle and the jaw member 24slides the jaw in opposition to the spring 28 and away from thejawwithin the channel 27 until the distance between the jaw faces 21 andis suficient for the wrench to pass over the nut 37. Release of thecounterclockwise movement on the handle 15 permits the spring 23 tobring the sliding jaw face 25 back into snug engagement with the nut nowpositioned between the coacting jaw faces.

This counterclockwise rotation of the handle pivots the handle about theshaft 16 releasing any tension on the flexible link 32 and because ofits inherent spring properties which tend to wrap the link around thesurface 36 of the cam, it rotates the cam in aclockwise direction towarddecreasing radii permitting the wedge surface 29 on the sliding jawmember to move toward an open position.

In FIGURE 4 the wrench is shown with the jaw membet in an open positionwith a small space 40 existing between the edge of the cam 38) and wedgesurface 29. Since the cam rotates toward decreasing radii at the sametime that the sliding jaw member moves away from the pivotal jaw, thissmall space 40 between the two elements is con tinuously maintained.This permits movement of the sliding jaw during adjustment and positionsthe locking cam such that slight manipulation of the handle, in theopposite direction as explained below, will lock the jaw in placeregardless of the jaws location with respect to the pivotal jaw member20..

While it is desirable to rotate the cam independent of the sliding jawso that the jaw can slide unobstructed, it is not essential that the cammaintain a specific distance between it and the wedge surface of thesliding jaw as the wrench is adjusted. The cam may actually rest againstthe surface of the sliding jaw during adjustment as the force of the jawagainst the cam tends to rotate it toward decreasing radii thus actingas an aid to the resilient flexible link which rotates the cam in thesame direction.

Additionally a suitable spring, not shown, may be provided within thescope of this invention, to aid the flexible link in turning the camtoward decreasing radii to permit smooth and speedy adjustment of thewrench. This spring may, for example, be either an extension springpositioned between the cam and the pivotal jaw to rotate the cam towarddecreasing radii or may be a torsion spring mounted about the pivot post31 of the cam.

An a-rc contour 43 on the end of the handle 15 using the pivot post 16as a center of radius serves to guide the sliding jaw 24 and supports itwithin the channel 27 during the. initial movement of the jaw away fromthe pivotal jaw 20 as shown in phantom in FIGURE 4. A slot 41 isprovided on the end of the sliding jaw that engages a pin 42 securedbetween the flanges 17 and 18 of the pivotal jaw 20, that guides thesliding jaw when the wrench is fully extended as also shown in FIGURE 4.

By providing the arc contour on the head of the handle of the wrench,the sliding jaw is kept within the channel 27 and the necessity ofaccurately machining ways or guides has been eliminated. However, it iswithin the scope of this invention to provide a machined way for thesliding jaw if desired as shown, for example, in the embodiment ofFIGURES 9-12. It can thus be seen that either method for guiding the jawmay be used with the wrench of this invention.

Additionally, the locking cam may be provided with a fiat portion orland 44. which serves as a stop for limiting the degree of rotation ofthe cam when the wrench is nearing a closed position as shown in FIGURE3. This prevents the cam from jamming against the sliding jaw when thewrench is in a closed position permitting the jaw to slide when torqueis again applied to the handle in an adjustment direction.

When the wrench is properly adjusted, a mere change in the direction ofrotation of the handle to a clockwise direction will pivot the cam 30 ina counterclockwise direction toward increasing radii by placing tensionon the link 32 and this jams the edge of the camagainst the wedgesurface locking the jaw in place. Further rotation of the handle appliestorque to the nut to be tightened while increasing the locking action ofthe cam against the jaw.

It can be readily seen that to change the direction of application oftorque to the nut that the wrench need only be turned over and operatedin the same manner as described above.

The wrench of this invention permits a ratching motion and readjusts thejaws of the wrench to the nut every time torque is reapplied. Forexample, after the wrench has reached its limit of torque, if the handleis rotated in the opposite direction, this motion opens the jaws andpermits ratching and then return of the jaws of the wrench to theiroriginal opening for the next application of torque. Release of thehandle pulls the jaw faces snugly around the nut again and permitsreapplication of torque to the nut. It can be seen that this avoids thenecessity of removing the wrench and replacing it back in the originalposition as is necessary with conventional worm and rack type adjustablewrenches and also avoids the problem inherent in that type of wrench ofcreeping out of adjustment since the wrench automatically readjustsevery time torque is reapplied.

It is to be noted that the adjustment of the jaws is infinite ratherthan incremental so that within the range of the wrench it can easily bemade to fit any size nut regardless of the measurement system used. Thelocking action applied to the sliding jaw of the wrench is alwayssuflicient to overcome resistive torque of the nut increasing thesmaller the size of the nut and therefore the jaws are held firmly inplace by the same amount of torque applied to the handle of the wrench,regardless of whether or not the wrench is at its smallest or largestlimit. This avoids the disadvantages of conventional pivotal jawwrenches which have a tendency to open on small nuts because the torqueapplied to the wrench is not suflicient to overcome the resistive torqueof the nut. Efforts to avoid this have placed a very limited range ofoperation on the wrenches whereas the wrench of this invention iscapable for use over a wide range.

FIGURE 6 represents a variation of the wrench of this invention whereinthe operating mechanisms have been replaced by a series of intermeshinggear teeth 50 and 51 on the cam 52 and on the handle 15 of the wrenchrespectively forming a segment gear connection between the locking camand the handle.

Adjustment movement of the handle in a counterclockwise direction causessliding movement of the jaw 24 away from the jaw 20 by the end 38 of thehandle engaging the end of the jaw as described above. Simultaneouslywith movement of the jaw, the gear connection creates clockwise rotationof the cam 52 in a direction toward decreasing radii thus maintainingthe tolerance 40 between the wedge and the cam as it is adjusted withrespect to the pivotal jaw member 20 as shown in FIGURE 8. Torqueapplication to the handle in a clockwise direction jams the cam againstthe wedge by rotating the cam in the direction toward increasing radiithrough the gear connection to hold the jaw in place.

FIGURES 9-12 represent another alternate form of the invention, whereinthe cam 60 is bifurcated as shown in FIGURE 12 to permit passage of arigid link 62 in the form of a bar pivotally mounted to the cam at 63and the handle at 64. In operation, which is similar to the operation ofthe above described wrenches, the link 62 creates movement of thelocking cam 60 in a clockwise direction toward decreasing radii as thehandle is rotated in counterclockwise or adjustment direction in orderto slide the movable jaw away from the pivotal jaw. The application oftorque to the handle 15 pulls the cam through link 62 into lockingaction with respect to the wedge surface 29 of the movable jaw 24. Inthis particular embodiment, and while not limited thereto, the slidingjaw has a depending T-shaped extension 65 which operates within acorrespondingly shaped channel 66 or way in the pivotal jaw between theflanges 17 and 18.

In all of these embodiments there is a slight amount of lost motion whenchanging from adjustment movement to torque movement until the cam jamsthe wedge. This small increment of time permits the spring 28 to pullthe jaw face 25 snugly against the nut which is to be tightened if thedirection of motion of the handle is instantaneously changed fromadjustment to torque.

In accordance with the invention a new and improved wrench has beenprovided that can be readily adjusted with one hand by the mere rotationof the handle of the wrench in a direction opposite to that by whichtorque is applied. Furthermore, a wrench has been provided that utilizesa locking cam also operated by mere rotation or manipulation of thehandle of the Wrench in the direction of application of torque thatlocks the jaws of the Wrench in the desired location. It can thereforebe seen that a quick and simple-acting wrench has been provided thatreadily adapts itself to any size nut or head of a bolt within itsrange, quickly locking itself in place as torque is applied to thewrench.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I therefore claim allsuch insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a self-adjusting wrench, a handle, a jaw pivotally mounted to thehandle, a coacting jaw slidably mounted on said pivotal jaw andoperatively engaged by the handle for adjustment away from the pivotaljaw by movement of the handle, said sliding jaw having a wedge surfaceinclined in the direction of travel of the sliding jaw, a locking camrotatably mounted on the pivotal jaw and having a spiral surface,interconnecting means between the handle and the cam for actuating thecam into locking position against the wedge surface of the sliding jawin response to movement of the handle in the direction of application oftorque to the wrench, the interconnecting means rotating the cam towarddecreasing radii as the handle adjusts the sliding jaw away from thepivotal jaw and toward increasing radii and locking position against thewedge surface of the sliding jaw as the handle moves in the direction ofapplication of torque, the interconnecting means comprising a linkbetween the handle and the cam that is rigid under tension and rotatesthe cam into locking position as the handle moves in the direction ofapplication of torque.

2. In a self-adjusting wrench according to claim 1 wherein the link isflexible and resilient tending to wind 6 around the cam and to rotate ittoward decreasing radii in proportion to the release of tension on thelink by movement of the handle in a direction of adjustment.

3. In a self-adjusting wrench according to claim 2, wherein the link isa plurality of thin metal strips.

4. In a self-adjusting wrench, a handle, a jaw pivotally mounted to thehandle, a coacting jaw slidably mounted on said pivotal jaw andoperatively engaged by the handle for adjustment away from the pivotaljaw by movement of the handle, said sliding jaw having a wedge surfaceinclined in the direction of travel of the sliding jaw, a locking camrotatably mounted on the pivotal jaw and having a spiral surface,interconnecting means between the handle and the cam for actuating thecam into locking position against the wedge surface of the sliding jawin response to movement of the handle in the direction of application oftorque to the wrench, the interconnecting means rotating the cam towarddecreasing radii as the handle adjusts the sliding jaw away from thepivotal jaw and toward increasing radii and locking position against thewedge surface of the sliding jaw as the handle moves in the direction ofapplication of torque, the locking surface of the cam maintaining arelatively small and substantially constant distance away from the wedgesurface during adjustment movement of the wrench handle.

5. In a self-adjusting wrench, a handle, a jaw pivotally mounted to thehandle, a coacting jaw slidably mounted on said pivotal jaw andoperatively engaged by the handle for adjustment away from the pivotaljaw by movement of the handle, said sliding jaw having a wedge surfaceinclined in the direction of travel of the sliding jaw, a locking camrotatably mounted on the pivotal jaw and having a spiral surface,interconnecting means between the handle and the cam for actuating thecam into locking position against the wedge surface of the sliding jawin response to movement of the handle in the direction of application oftorque to the wrench, the interconnecting means rotating the cam towarddecreasing radii as the handle adjusts the sliding jaw away from thepivotal jaw and toward increasing radii and locking position against thewedge surface of the sliding jaw as the handle moves in the direction ofapplication of torque, the interconnecting means comprising a rigid linkpivotally connected between the handle and the cam to rotate the cam asthe handle pivots with respect to the pivotal jaw in adjustment andtorque directions.

6. In a self-adjusting wrench, a handle, a jaw pivotally mounted to thehandle, a coacting jaw slidably mounted on said pivotal jaw andoperatively engaged by the handle for adjustment away from the pivotaljaw by movement of the handle, said sliding jaw having a wedge surfaceinclined in the direction of travel of the sliding jaw, a locking camrotatably mounted on the pivotal jaw and having a spiral surface,interconnecting means between the handle and the cam for actuating thecam into locking position against the wedge surface of the sliding jawin response to movement of the handle in the direction of application oftorque to the wrench, the interconnecting means rotating the cam towarddecreasing radii as the handle adjusts the sliding jaw away from thepivotal jaw and toward increasing radii and locking position against thewedge surface of the sliding jaw as the handle moves in the direction ofapplication of torque, the interconnecting means comprising intermeshinggear teeth on the handle and on the cam to rotate the cam as the handlepivots with respect to the pivotal jaw.

7. In a self-adjusting wrench, a stationary jaw having dependingflanges, a handle pivotally mounted to the jaw between the flanges, amovable jaw slidably mounted between the flanges for movement toward andaway from the stationary jaw, said sliding jaw being operatively engagedand supported by the handle for adjustment relative to the stationaryjaw by movement of the handle in a direction opposite to the applicationof torque, spring means urging the sliding jaw toward the stationary jawin 7 8 opposition to adjustment movement of the handle, said ReferencesCited movable jaw having a wedge. surface inclined inthe di- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS rection of travel of the aw, a spiral locking camplvotaliy mounted to the stationary jaw, a resilient and flexible link26,468 12/1859 Ben operatively interconnecting the cam to the handle,said 5 1,306,534 6/1919 Granbsrg 81*426 link tending to wrap around acontoured surface On the 2,302,199 11/1942 81-128 cam rotating it towarddecreasing radii as the. handle pivots 2,827,814 3/1958 Israel SL428 inadjustment direction and being rigid in expansion ro- 3,101,018 8/1963Andersen 81-427 tating the cam toward increasing radii against the wedgel surface of the movable jaw into locking position as the OTHELL SIMPSONP r 1mm Exammer' handle pivots in the direction of application oftorque. w MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. IN A SELF-ADJUSTING WRENCH, A HANDLE, A JAW PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO THEHANDLE, A COACTING JAW SLIDABY MOUNTED ON SAID POVITAL JAW ANDOPERATIVELY ENGAGED BY THE HANDLE FOR ADJUSTMENT AWAY FROM THE PIVOTALJAW BY MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE, SAID SLIDING JAW HAVING A WEDGE SURFACEINCLINED IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE SLIDING JAW, A LOCKING CAMROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE PIVOTAL JAW AND HAVING A SPIRAL SURFACE,INTERCONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE CAM FOR ACTUATING THECAM INTO LOCKING POSITION AGAINST THE WEDGE SURFACE OF THE SLIDING JAWIN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE IN THE DIRECTION OF APPLICATION OFTORQUE TO THE WRENCH, THE INTERCONNECTING MEANS ROTATING THE CAM TOWARDDECREASING RADII AS THE HANDLE ADJUSTS THE SLIDING JAW AWAY FROM THEPIVOTAL JAW AND TOWARD INCREASING RADII AND LOCKING POSITION AGAINST THEWEDGE SURFACE OF THE SLIDING JAW AS THE HANDLE MOVES IN THE DIRECTION OFAPPLICATION OF TORQUE, THE INTERCONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A LINKBETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE CAM THAT IS RIGID UNDER TENSION AND ROTATESTHE CAM INTO LOCKING POSITION AS THE HANDLE MOVES IN THE DIRECTION OFAPPLICATION OF TORQUE.